CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has revamped its website to now provide patients with online access to estimated clinic wait times, clinical quality scores and cost of services at Take Care Clinics across the country.

"With the advent of consumer-driven systems, such as high-deductible health plans, today's patients and payers are more motivated than ever to comparison shop for healthcare services," said Sandy Ryan, chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems. "The new TakeCareHealth.com provides the tools that will allow patients to make smarter choices about where and how they seek care, which, in turn, offers a significant opportunity to drive down costs and improve outcomes."

By visiting TakeCareHealth.com, patients can access a cost menu before visiting a Take Care Clinic, and review local and up-to-date information on patient satisfaction scores and market-specific quality of care scores based on National Center for Quality Assurance Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set guidelines. HEDIS guidelines are used by more than 90% of America's health plans to measure performance on healthcare delivery.

"A knowledgeable and empowered patient is in the best position to make smart choices on where and how [he or she will] go about accessing [his or her] health care," said Charles Stellar, EVP of America's Health Insurance Plans. "To drive better health outcomes at lower costs, providers should increasingly look to offer patients and consumers easily accessible information on the quality and price of their services. Walgreens and Take Care Health's decision to offer access to HEDIS information, patient experience metrics and service costs through a consumer-facing website is a strong template for improving transparency in health care."

Take Care Clinics historically have simplified patient access to healthcare services by providing a walk-in care setting with evening and weekend hours and an easy-to-use registration kiosk. The site now makes it even easier by giving patients and their families visibility to real-time information on wait times, vaccine availability and accepted insurance plans.

"Leading payers, managed care organizations and health systems are striving to offer patients a simpler and easier healthcare experience," added Heather Helle, Walgreens divisional VP for Take Care Health's Consumer Solutions Group. "Access to relevant and tangible information on quality and cost at Take Care Clinics removes traditional barriers to transparency, allowing patients to take a more proactive and informed role in choosing what the best and most cost-effective care setting is for them."

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